Viliame Mata to debut for Bears against Harlequins
- 122
Viliame Mata will make his long-awaited Bristol Bears debut against Harlequins at The Stoop on Friday night (7.45pm KO, live on TNT Sports).
The Fijian international is named at number eight for the Gallagher Premiership round seven clash in West London having recovered from a hamstring injury sustained during pre-season.
Santiago Grondona returns from international duty with Argentina to start on the blindside flank, with skipper Fitz Harding at openside.
Joe Owen starts in the second row alongside Bristolian James Dun with Joe Batley out injured, while among the replacements, Lovejoy Chawatama is set for his first Premiership appearance for the club in the absence of the injured George Kloska.
Bristol Bears team face Harlequins at The Stoop on Friday night (7.45pm KO, live on TNT Sports):
15. Rich Lane (42 apps), 14. Jack Bates (42 apps), 13. Kalaveti Ravouvou (12 apps), 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (31 apps), 11. Gabriel Ibitoye (48 apps), 10. AJ MacGinty (43 apps), 9. Kieran Marmion (32 apps); 1. Jake Woolmore (157 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (24 apps), 3. Max Lahiff (94 apps), 4. James Dun (40 apps), 5. Joe Owen (19 apps), 6. Santiago Grondona (3 apps), 7. Fitz Harding (c) (79 apps), 8. Viliame Mata (debut).
System players: 16. Harry Thacker (119 apps), 17. Yann Thomas (117 apps), 18. Lovejoy Chawatama (3 apps), 19. Steven Luatua (135 apps), 20. Benjamin Grondona (10 apps), 21. Oscar Lennon (11 apps), 22. Joe Jenkins (18 apps), 23. Benjamin Elizalde (5 apps).
Unavailable: Ellis Genge, Sam Grahamslaw, George Kloska, Joe Batley, Josh Caulfield, Steele Barker, George Taylor, Kofi Cripps, Harry Randall, Sam Wolstenholme, James Williams, Noah Heward, Deago Bailey, Max Malins.
